Wednesday, March 2, 2011

It's not, in my opinion, a question of whether or not electric motorcycles will become popular. It's a question of when.

Though the Zero X dirtbike I threw a leg over a couple of years ago wasn't exactly perfect (or particularly cheap), it offered new sensations you simply don't expect on a motorized bike, among them eerily quiet operation and oodles of seamless torque.

Zero has added a fifth model to their 2011 lineup, and the new XU ("Urban Crosser") combines the brand's offroad chassis with street gear for a supermoto-type ride-- sort of an restyled and updated "S" model.

The new XU model, unlike Zeros of the past, offers a removable battery and an optional standalone charger in case you don't have a power outlet in your garage. Though range is a paltry 30 miles (and the 50 pound battery's quite a bit to lug), the XU has an updated lithium ion battery pack with a new quick-charge feature that drops recharge times by 50%, down to one hour.

Still a premium product with a $7,995 price tag, the Zero XU represents the inch-by-inch progression of electric motorcycles towards more widespread viability. I'll be track-testing the 2011 lineup in a couple of weeks, so stay tuned for a review!

The photograph above is completely tongue-in-cheek*, but its implicit suggestion is simple: Victory motorcycles could out-perform Harley-Davidsons in the arena of law enforcement. Add to that a Victory vs. BMW YouTube video and a quote from a Tuscon PD Motor Sargeant who says, "It can do everything a Harley can do, only more and better," and you've got the makings for a serious battle from an upstart outfitter intent on selling Victory bikes to American police departments.

Arizona-based Victory Police Motorcycles-- not affiliated directly with Victory or Polaris, apart from dealer ties-- offers two models: the windshield-equipped Commander I (based on a Kingpin), and the fully-faired Commander II (based on a Cross-Country.) Both bikes are powered by a 97 horsepower, 106 cubic inch V-twin, and can be ordered as turnkey units with the requisite lights, sirens, crash bars, and miscellaneous law enforcement accoutrement.

Could Victory police motorcycles catch on and challenge the red & blue two-wheeled establishment (like Kawasaki, BMW, and Honda)? Time will tell, as will the question of whether or not the bikes are perceived as truly worthy for police duty, or simply a patriotic option in the face of other viable (and pre-established) alternatives.

Classic motorcycle events don't enjoy the same consistency as their four-wheeled counterparts.I enjoyed the Legend of the Motorcycle soiree at the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay in 2007 and 2008, but that event has since (and sadly) been retired. Classic bikes made a guest appearance at the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance; while it was surely a lovely proceeding, I'd hardly consider squatting at a car show a proper way to fully appreciate two-wheeled splendor.

It doesn't quite qualify as one of the world's most expensive motorcycles, but the F1 Tracker-- conceived, designed and constructed by Swede Marcus Carlsson-- is certainly one of the most unique.